AU733907B3

AU733907B3 - A trolley

Info

Publication number: AU733907B3
Application number: AU72196/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Walsh
Original assignee: HARPLEY JOHN
Current assignee: HARPLEY JOHN
Priority date: 2000-12-12
Filing date: 2000-12-12
Publication date: 2001-05-31
Anticipated expiration: 2006-12-12
Also published as: AU756723B2; AU2002221332A1; US20050098971A1; AU6358601A; WO2002047956A1

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PETTY PATENT Invention Title: A TROLLEY Name of Applicant: MICHAEL WALSH The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 A TROLLEY Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a trolley for shifting items and, particularly, but not exclusively, to a trolley for use in the removals industry and furniture retail industry.

Background of the Invention In the removals industry, it is often necessary to transport heavy and/or cumbersome items from one location to another. At present, one way to achieve this is to use a trolley which includes a frame and a plurality of wheels, the item being disposed on the frame and moved by pushing the frame. While such a trolley is satisfactory in transporting items in a generally straight line along generally flat terrain, the trolley is not particularly suitable for manoeuvring an item around corners or in confined spaces, or for transporting an item between different terrain levels.

In order to transport an item between different terrain levels, the item must be lifted, generally by two operators. To assist in lifting an item, it is normal to provide a link which forms a continuous loop. During use the link extends around the neck of a user and extends beneath an underside portion of the item. In this way, the weight of the item is borne by the shoulders of the users so as to avoid damage to the user's back.

However, such a lifting arrangement is unsafe since the link is liable to slip from beneath the item, potentially causing injury to the user, damage to the item and/or damage to the dwelling from which or to which the item is being transported. The link is also cumbersome for the user since to obtain comfortable lifting, it is necessary for the length of the link to be modified by 3 manual adjustment to best suit the height of the user.

Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a trolley including a frame, a first lifting arrangement located adjacent a first end of the frame, and a second lifting arrangement located adjacent a second opposite end of the frame, each of the first and second lifting arrangements including a first flexible member connected to the frame at spaced locations on the frame so as to define a loop, and at least one first retractor mounted to the frame, each at least one first retractor being associated with a first flexible member and each at least one first retractor being arranged to allow its associated first flexible member to withdraw from the first retractor when the first flexible member is withdrawn at a speed which is below a predetermined speed, and to lock the first flexible member and prevent further withdrawal when the first flexible member is withdrawn at a speed which exceeds the predetermined speed, the arrangement being such that each first flexible member is selectively adjustable in length and selectively lockable to restrain or permit enlargement of the first flexible member.

The first and/or second lifting arrangement preferably includes two retractors mounted to the frame at spaced locations. Each retractor may be mounted on a platform fixed to the frame.

The frame may include at least one strengthening plate which may extend between opposite side members of the frame or opposite end members of the frame.

The trolley may also include a restraining arrangement for facilitating retaining of an item on the a retractor mounted adjacent a side or end member of the frame, and a link associated with the retractor.

Preferably, the link is a restraining strap and includes a 4 male buckle portion. The frame is preferably provided with a female buckle portion adapted to engage with the male buckle portion.

The restraining arrangement may also include a tensioning means, preferably in the form of an over centre arrangement, for applying tension to the restraining strap when the male buckle portion is engaged with the female buckle portion.

The trolley preferably also includes a plurality of castors, each castor including a rotatable wheel.

Preferably, each wheel is formed of rubber material.

Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic upper plan view of a trolley in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic lower plan view of the trolley shown in Figure 1; and Figures 3a to 3c are diagrammatic cross-sectional views of a portion of a frame of the trolley shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Detailed Description of Embodiment of the Invention Referring to the drawings, there is shown a trolley for use in the removals industry.

The trolley 10 includes a frame 12 formed of suitably strong, light material such as aluminium, a first lifting arrangement 14 located adjacent a first end of the trolley and a second lifting arrangement 16 located adjacent a second opposite end of the trolley The frame 12 includes longitudinal first and second side members 18, 20 and transverse first and second end members 22, 24 respectively. Each of the first and second 5 side members 18, 20 and the first and second end members 22, 24 is of generally rectangular or rhs-shaped cross section, as shown in Figures 3a to 3c. Each side member 18, 20 abuts an adjacent end member 22, 24 at a corner of the frame 12, where the side members 18, 20 and end members 22, 24 may be fixed together, for example by welding.

The frame 12 also includes four first platforms 26, each of which is fixed adjacent an interior corner of the frame 12. The first platforms 26 serve to support the first and second lifting arrangements 14, 16.

The frame 12 also includes first and second strengthening plates 28, 30 which extend between the first and second side members 18, 20. The first and second strengthening plates 28, 30 may be fixed to the side plates 18, 20 and/or the first platforms 26, for example by welding.

The first lifting arrangement 14 includes a pair of first retractors 32 and the second lifting arrangement 16 includes a pair of second retractors 34, each of the retractors 32, 34 being mounted on a first platform 26.

A first link, in this example in the form of a first strap 36 extends between the pair of first retractors 32.

Likewise, a second link in the form of a second strap 38 extends between the pair of second retractors 34.

It will be understood that each retractor 32, 34 operates in a similar way to a retractor of a vehicle seatbelt, that is, the retractor 32, 34 allows its associated strap 36, 38 to withdraw from the retractor when the strap is withdrawn at a speed which is below a predetermined speed, and the retractor locks the strap and withdrawal is not permitted when the strap is withdrawn at a speed which exceeds the predetermined speed.

Accordingly, by providing each of the first and second lifting arrangements 14, 16 with a pair of retractors 32, 34 and a strap 26,38 extending between the retractors, a loop of variable size is obtained. In this 6 way, the operators are provided with a lifting strap 36, 38 which may be easily adjusted to suit the operators height.

It will also be understood that since the straps 36, 38 are fixed to the frame 12 by virtue of the retractors 32, 34, there is no possibility that the straps 36, 38 will detach from the frame 12 and cause injury to the user, damage to the item being carried and/or damage to the surrounding dwelling.

The trolley 10 also includes a restraining arrangement for facilitating retaining of an item on the trolley 10 during a moving operation.

The retaining arrangement includes a third retractor a restraining strap 42 associated with the third retractor 40 and a male buckle portion 44 connected to the restraining strap 42. The third retractor 40 is mounted on a second platform 46 fixed to the second side member for example by welding.

It will be understood that the third retractor operates in a similar way to the first and second retractors 32, 34. In other words, the restraining strap 42 and thereby the male buckle portion 42 are withdrawable from the third retractor 40 when the restraining strap 42 is withdrawn at a speed below a predetermined speed, and the third retractor 40 locks the strap and withdrawal is not permitted when the restraining strap 42 is withdrawn at a speed which exceeds the predetermined speed.

The restraining arrangement also includes a female buckle portion 48, in this example fixed to a side surface of the first side member 18, for example by bolting. The male buckle portion 42 is adapted to engage with the female buckle portion 48.

The restraining arrangement may also include tensioning means, for example in the form of an over centre arrangement which serves to apply tension to the restraining strap 42 when the restraining strap 42 has been drawn around the item and engaged with the female 7 buckle portion 48.

As shown in Figure 2, the trolley 10 also includes four castors 50, each of which includes a rotatable wheel 52 which in this example is formed of hard rubber. Each castor 50 also includes a braking mechanism for selectively preventing or allowing rotation of its associated wheel 52.

It will be understood that the castors 50 facilitate easy turning and manoeuvrability of the trolley As shown in Figures 3A to 3C, the side members 18, and end members 22, 24 of the frame 12 may include a cap 54, 56, 58, in this example formed of hard rubber. The cap 54, 56, 58 serves to prevent damage to the item when the item is located on the trolley 10 and restrained relative to the trolley 10 by the restraining arrangement.

In use, the trolley 10 operates as follows.

An item to be transported is placed on the trolley such that the item sits on the cap 54, 56, 58. The restraining strap 42 is then withdrawn from the third retractor 42 at a speed below the predetermined speed so that the restraining strap 42 does not lock, the strap 42 is drawn around the item, and the male buckle portion 44 is engaged with the female buckle portion 48. Tension is then applied to the restraining strap 42 by the over centre arrangement.

To move the trolley 10 over generally even terrain, the first or second strap 36, 38 may be used to pull the trolley, it being possible to manoeuvre the trolley around confined spaces by virtue of the rotatable wheels 52 of the castors To lift the item between different levels of terrain, each operator withdraws a strap from its respective retractors 32, 34 at a speed below the predetermined speed so that the strap does not lock, and places the strap over the operators shoulders. Once the operators have determined the most suitable length for the respective strap 36, 38, the strap is jerked by the operator away 8 from the respective retractors 32, 34 so as to briefly withdraw the respective strap 36, 38 at a speed greater than the predetermined speed and thereby lock the respective strap. The operators are now able to stand fully erect so as to lift the-trolley 10 and thereby the item.

It will be appreciated that the first and second straps 36, 38 are withdrawable to a length sufficient to allow an operator to pull the trolley 10 up a ramp, for example towards a truck. This allows the operator to remain in the truck whilst the trolley 10 and associated item is moved into the truck, thereby avoiding the need for the operator to stand on the ramp which is potentially hazardous.

Although the trolley is described above as being particularly suited for use in the removals industry and furniture retail industry for shifting furniture, it will be appreciated that it may be useable in other industries to move items and is not restricted to the removals and furniture retail industry.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A trolley including a frame, a first lifting arrangement located adjacent a first end of the frame, and a second lifting arrangement located adjacent a second opposite end of the frame, each of the first and second lifting arrangements including a first flexible member connected to the frame at spaced locations on the frame so as to define a loop, and at least one first retractor mounted to the frame, each at least one first retractor being associated with a first flexible member and each at least one first retractor being arranged to allow its associated first flexible member to withdraw from the first retractor when the first flexible member is withdrawn at a speed which is below a predetermined speed, and to lock the first flexible member and prevent further withdrawal when the first flexible member is withdrawn at a speed which exceeds the predetermined speed, the arrangement being such that each first flexible member is selectively adjustable in length and selectively lockable to restrain or permit enlargement of the first flexible member.

2. A trolley as claimed in claim 1, where each lifting arrangement includes two first retractors mounted to the frame at spaced locations on the frame.

3. A trolley as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, further including a first attachment portion provided on the frame and a restraining arrangement engageable with the first attachment portion for facilitating retaining of an item on the trolley, the restraining arrangement including a second retractor, a second flexible member associated with the second retractor, and a second attachment portion attached to an end of the second flexible a member remote from the second retractor, the second attachment portion being adapted to engage with the first attachment portion. 10 Dated this 26th day of March 2001 MICHAEL WALSH By his Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK